Chapter Nine

Kuchiki Rukai was walking around the 13th division when he saw Ukitake-taichou sitting outside with a man who looked almost exactly like her nii-sama.

"So that's why you always came here," laughed Jushiro.

"Hai, hai," answered the Byakuya twin with a blush over his cheeks.

"Rukai Konichiwa," greeted Jushiro as he noticed Rukai standing only a few feet from them. The Byakuya twin turned his head look at Rukai.

"Hisana?" asked the Byakuya look alike in surprise.

"No Botan that is Rukai. Hisana was Rukai's older sister," explained Jushiro to the Byakuya look alike.

"Oh, gomennasai Rukai-chan, you look so much like my passed sister in law," apologized Botan.

"Ukitake-taichou who is he?" asked Rukai as he looked at Botan.

"Rukai this is Byakuya's older brother Kuchiki Botan," answered Jushiro.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Rukai-chan," smiled Botan.

"Botan Rukai is you sister," Jushiro told Botan who seemed not to have put the pieces together.

"I've always wanted a younger sister," said Botan happily as he got up and hugged Rukai.

"Are you really a Kuchiki?" asked Rukai who was surprised by the hug.

"Of course I am," answered Botan as he let go of Rukai.

"But you act nothing like nii-sama," stated Rukai as she studied the elder Kuchiki.

"Of course I'm not like Bya-chan. Bya-chan was raised to be the next Kuchiki head," answered Botan, "But Rukai-chan you never knew Bya-chan when he was younger did you."

"What was Nii-sama like when he was younger?" asked Rukai as she sat down next to Botan.

"He was sweet and innocent but he was also hot headed. I loved him with everything I had. Bya-chan my world and if Bya-chan was in danger I would use all the power I had to protect him," explained Botan as he held his locket. "That's why Nii-sama never spoke of you," whispered Rukai in surprise.

"And I was Bya-chan's world," smiled Botan.

"So are you the former captain of the 6th division?" asked Rukai when she noticed the captain haori around Botan's waist.

"Hai, I was captain before Bya-chan," answered Botan as he touched the haori.

"Then what division are you part of now?" asked Rukai.

"I am now the captain of the 5th division," answered Botan.

"The 5th division," whispered Rukai as she remembered what Aizen did to her.

"I have taken the place of Aizen Sosuke," smiled Botan as he got up.

"Did you know Aizen?" asked Rukai as he watched Botan walk over to the plum tree.

"Yes he was my fukutaichou when I was transferred to the 3rd seat," answered Botan as he grabbed a plum and bit into it.

"What was he like back then?" asked Rukai not knowing why she was asking

"He was a very charming man and was my best friend," answered Botan as he took another bite out of the plum.

"Your best friend," whispered Rukai in shock.

"He was the only person in the gotei 13 where I could let myself go and say what I want. He calmed my nerves and he cared for me deeply," smiled Botan as he looked at the plum seed that was imbedded in the middle of the plum.

"Then why do you hate him now?" asked Rukai sadly.

"I hate him now because he turned me into something I never wanted to be," answered Botan as he pulled the plum seed out.

"He betrayed you," whispered Rukai remembering what happened to Momo.

"He hurt me so badly for what he did to me and to the ones I loved," whispered Botan as he closed his eyes as his eyes started to burn.

"What loved ones did he hurt?" asked Rukai.

"He took away my lover and my dear cousin," answered Botan as he opened his eyes and crushed the plum seed that was in his hand.

"Your dear cousin? Who's your cousin?" asked Rukai who knew for sure Byakuya didn't have any cousins.

"Rukai I'm not Bya-chan's full brother," explained Botan as he turned to Rukai and ate the rest of the plum.

"What do you mean?" asked Rukai who was confused.

"I am Bya-chan's half brother. We shared the same father but our mother's were different. My mother was the former head of the Shiba family," Botan told Rukai as he sat down next to her.

"Shiba family?" asked Rukai in surprise.

"You must know who I am talking about now," whispered Botan.

"Aizen was the one who turned Kaien into a hollow?" asked Rukai.

"Yes he turned my dear cousin into a hollow. Kaien was very close to me. He was like an older brother to me," sighed Botan as he pulled the locket up to his face.

"Who gave you the locket?" asked Rukai.

"My father gave it to me. He told me he gave it to my mother when they got married," answered Botan as he opened the locket and looked at the pictures inside. Then Botan snapped it close only after looking into it for a few seconds.

"What about you Rukai-chan, tell me a little about yourself," smiled Botan as he looked at Rukai.

"You want to know about me?" asked Rukai in surprise.

"Hai I do want to know about you Rukai-chan. You are my family I want to know everything about you," answered Botan as he put his hand on Rukai's head and messed up her hair. Rukai told Botan her story when she lived on the streets and how she came to be a shinigami.

"Wow Rukai-chan you have on interesting story," chuckled Botan as he got up again.

"Where are you going?" asked Rukai as she watched her new brother walk off.

"I am going to go and visit my cousins," answered Botan as he waved to Rukai, "Ja ne." Before Rukai's eyes Botan disappeared into thin air. Then Botan found himself standing at the West Gate of Seireitei.

"Jidanbo-san, will you open the gate for me!" called Botan threw the gate. Then the gate slowly started to open. Standing in the gate way was Jidanbo.

"Arigato Jidanbo-san," smiled Botan as he walked under Jidanbo and into Rukongai.

"Your welcome Kuchiki-dono," answered Jidanbo who hadn't seen the Kuchiki in over half a century.

"When I come back I'll give you some good food," Botan told Jidanbo as he disappeared into thin air. Botan stopped at the Shiba household.

"Kukaku-chan!" called Botan as he knocked on the front door. The doors opened gently. Botan quickly entered into the house and fallowed the sound of yelling. Botan pushed open a pair of double doors and they swung open. In the large room were Kukaku and her younger brother Ganju who were fighting. Ganju was being beaten to a pulp by his older sister.

"Kukaku-chan!" called Botan again, as he knocked on the door frame gently. Kukaku turned her attention to Botan.

"Botan what are you doing here?" asked Kukaku as she walked over to her cousin.

"I've come to visit you two. It's been several years since I've seen you two," smiled Botan.

"Is that Botan?" asked Ganju as he got up looking rather beat up.

"It seems Kukaku still beats you up when she's angry," sighed Botan as he walked over to Ganju and sat down in front of him. Botan raised his hand and rested it on Ganju's forehead. Slow but surly Ganju's wounds started to heal.

"All better," smiled Botan.

Flash Back

A young Ganju was crying after tripping and falling onto the ground.

"Ganju-chan," called the voice of Botan. Ganju looked up to see a young adult Botan running towards him.

"Bo-chan," cried Ganju as he held his hands up above his head.

"I'm here Ganju-chan," cooed Botan as he picked up Ganju and put a finger to Ganju's forehead. Ganju stopped crying and started to sniff.

"All better," smiled Botan as he kissed Ganju's forehead.

End of Flash Back

"Botan why have you been gone so long?" asked Kukaku as she folded her arms over his large chest.

"I've been busy with business," answered Botan as he got to his feet.

"But why visit us now?" asked Kukaku.

"Because I want to know how Kaien died," answered Botan as he turned to Kukaku. Kukaku eyes widen in shock.

"You don't know?" asked Kukaku in surprise.

"No I was not in the soul society at the time of his death," answered Botan as his eyes showed sadness.

"Fine I will tell you," sighed Kukaku as she sat down on a large cushion.

"Thank you Kukaku," smiled Botan softly as he sat down on a cushion as well.


THANX for reading hope you liked this chapter XD